Olympian Lindsey Vonn's Gym Routine Is Nothing Short Of Badass

You might imagine that training to compete as an Olympic skier involves speeding down snowy mountains day in and day out. While there’s plenty of time spent practicing on the slopes, that’s certainly not the only thing world-champion alpine skiers like Lindsey Vonn do to stay fit. To learn more about what it takes to get in Olympic skier shape, we caught up with Lindsey and her trainer, Alex Bunt, in Lake Louise, Canada, for the launch of Lindsey's new Under Armour clothing line. Here, a little behind-the-scenes look at how she prepped her body to perform at its best in this year's Winter Olympics.

For starters, Lindsey and Bunt spend time in the gym, and plenty of it (something that should come as no surprise to anyone who follows Lindsey on Instagram). “I am in the gym with her five to six days a week, year round” Bunt told Women’s Health. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are strength-focused, while Tuesdays and Fridays hone in on agility training.

Mornings are reserved for strength sessions, which last for at least two hours at a time, while the afternoons are dedicated to hour-long stationary bike sessions of varied intensity. Yep, that means the duo spends at least three hours a day in the gym. “Our approach is extremely goal-oriented, goal-driven, data-driven and all based on science,” explains Bunt.

When it comes to Lindsey's favorite way to break a sweat (beyond skiing, of course), she's all about those leg and core workouts. "Having a strong core and legs really makes me feel confident," Lindsey tells Women's Health. "I like being able to squat heavy weight. And on my body, when I do leg workouts, I can see them getting bigger and stronger pretty quickly."

Her go-to core move? "I use the TRX a lot, so I’ll do body saws or dragon flags—those rip everything every time!" (The Slim, Sexy, Strong Workout DVD is the fast, flexible workout you've been waiting for!)

This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Bunt notes that Lindsey's fitness schedule is pretty regimented: "Everything we do is purposeful, we have a plan for everything and every situation." That said, if they ever end up short on time for any reason, his go-to is actually a 30-minute spin workout. "It’s enough to at least keep her conditioning up, make a little change. We’ll include a couple of sprint intervals in there," he says.

In fact, cycling plays a much more crucial role in their training than most people may realize, says Bunt. "Her bike fitness is incredible. Her cardiovascular system and aerobic abilities is amazing. That’s a cornerstone of our program and she’s a beast at it."

If you're a Lindsey fan and are determined to get as fit as the skiing star, Bunt advises first seeking out a trainer who has your goals in mind to help you out. "Second is trying to constantly educate yourself, it’s important to always be reading up and staying on top of things in the fitness industry," he says. But overall, it's crucial to find someone to help you navigate it all.

You don't need a lot of equipment—or any at all—to get fit. Check out these 19 bodyweight exercises:

​

​

And, as in Lindsey's case, that fitness pro is also there to help make sure you're not doing more damage to your body than good.

"There’s been a couple days where I’m so run down that I’m almost in tears because I’m so drained, emotionally and physically. I have a really hard time stopping myself, but usually my trainer will point it out," Lindsey says.

That's why, every morning before they train, Bunt asks Lindsey one simple question: "How are you?” Then he asks her to rate her stress, recovery, and sleep, "so we can she how she is and responding to the training," he explains. "We adjust based on how she’s feeling. If she’s feeling good, we increase the training. And if she didn’t sleep well or is going through something personal, we’ll reduce the volume of training, while keeping the intensity."

Bottom line: No matter what your fitness goals, Lindsey notes that it's crucial to listen to your body. "When you see it coming, the hardest thing to do is to slow down and say stop. But if you’re pushing yourself too much, you’re deteriorating your muscles, and your mind. You need that recovery time."

This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Kristine ThomasonFitness & Wellness EditorKristine Thomason is the fitness & wellness editor at Women's Health, where she edits, writes, and helps oversee the food and fitness sections of the website and magazine.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

This commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information on their web site.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Women's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.